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Thanks for the Thursday Daily, Rich Not sure why it’s Boys Club Day when the day is to celebrate Boys and Girls clubs. never belonged by I was on the board for several years helping this worthwhile group. I will definitely be celebrating plant a vegetable garden day - planting vegetables today - chilies (who for, I have no idea now), tomatoes and lettuce. I’ll figure out the rest later. Accessibility is SO important EVERY day to so many. Love the Mark Twain quote. Been to LeHavre several times and returning next year. Still deciding what to do this time. One of our most memorable times was Juno Beach and Bayeux ( and yes we were all wearing poppies) @msmayorso sorry to hear that your daughter’s DH has come down with covid. Sounds like they are taking very good precautions. Hoping his symptoms are mild and your daughter and Lana remain safe 🙏🏻 That is really good news 🙂 I feel old today - probably because of the stuff I had to do yesterday 😉 But now that the frost risk is gone, the babies are going in. Going to try to get the bulk of it done today, if I can. That way I can figure out the gaps and what I need to do 😉 Roy @rafinmd - your last full day at home? Do you sail tomorrow or the next day? Hope you have a wonderful time! And glad to see you are not suffering from Tripophobia: Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list. Have a good Thursday, everyone. Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

And I third it. Taormina itself is beautiful. You can easily spend a good deal of time there and be totally enchanted 👍

Assignment used to be 2 weeks up to the day of the cruise. Probably best you discuss this on your roll call where i’m sure you will hear if people have gotten their assignments. Just check your luggage tag daily - faster than anything else to see if our room is assigned (at least it used to be B.C. (Before Covid) You are still more than 2 weeks out. Patience and good luck.

Not smart at all Gerry - it’s a long walk from the shed to the bbq. Necessity is the mother of invention - very true these days 😉

I’m sorry - but there a number of us that were booked on the Volendam and and also had plans devastated. Thankfully each person didn’t start a thread. there is a Volendam thread regarding the cancellations and another when it is extended so this is not news. I feel for your mother but there is a process - everything doesn’t happen in a day because one of us is more special than the other. It took me time to get my Eurodam cruise moved. My Volendam cruise deposit is now transferred to next year to a N Statendam sailing very close to the itinerary for Norway we were doing. You can definitely get the cruise credit transferred to cruises other than those listed but that takes time. So if you are worried about airfare, book flexible air which will let you cancel without penalty for what you want to do (or your mother does) and if you want to do HAL ‘s flight ease - you will need to wait until the cruise is confirmed. You need to have a bit of patience. It is a combination of a lot of changes and new staff / insufficient staff. I know you are frustrated but some of your comments are over the top IMO. You are not the first person to have plans frustrated by covid and now the war on Ukraine. Lots of us have lost lots of plans. Frankly, however HAL is being compensated, it is irrelevant. The refugees needed help & I am glad they are getting it (and yes, that is said being booked previously on the Volendam.). While everyone on our roll call was disappointed not one person disapproved of what HAL was doing nor accused HAL of anything. We felt for the Ukrainian people and I am happy to say I will be sailing with some of these wonderful warm hearted people still next year. My TA is in the process of getting our booking on the Oosterdam transferred to my name alone with all the credits, etc that my DH had who has sadly passed away. It will take 4 - 6 weeks. Yes, I would like everything to happen tomorrow but it doesn’t in these days. If you think HAL is slow try doing some of the stuff with Government for estates. Believe me, there are bigger problems - this is a 1st world one. Take a deep breath, relax and let the process happen. It doesn’t take that long but it doesn’t happen in 24 hours.

A very, very happy anniversary to a couple who doesn’t even look 48 let alone married for 48 years 😄 The propane tank is replaced ! I have no idea why DH used a wrench - I didn’t need one 😉 Quite pleased with myself as it is a long jaunt from the shed to our deck where the spare tank is. I used the dolly I use for earth for most of it - I’m not as stupid as I look 😉 Thanks - I’m ok. I may need help unloading the new tank from the SUV and never fear if I do, I will ask. I had a decent meal planned for last night (I confess I don’t eat ‘decent’ meals all the times these days. So, tonight will be steak - I deserve it after the bank and propane - yay me 🙂 I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear uncle. My sincere condolences, Gerry to you both and to his family. Sad it has happened but you may be right. My prayers are with you all. May he R.I.P. 🙏🏻

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better 👍 Hopefully you will feel much better fast 🤞 Once I get the energy and find the right wrench it will be. It’s not so much the change as the lifting I’m concerned about 😉 Graham - sorry to hear about your friend’s son. My condolences. Good to hear 👍 Thanks - it’s the lifting I’m worried about. Not sure if I can do it. Time will tell.

Thanks for our Hump Day Daily, Rich. Great combination of days. Museums are worthy of celebrating and I’m trying to make sure I don’t have dirty dishes but I don’t always succeed. 😉 I did a video chat with my sisters last night who are 2 provinces away so I hope that counts as “visit your relative” 🤞 I like that quote of Emerson’s. I’m trying to live by it but it’s hard some days to do so. Got ambitious last night and decided I would have a decent meal and went to bbq and the propane was pretty much gone 😡 Now I have to learn how to remove the propane tank 😔 Really? Couldn’t it have lasted a couple of weeks? ‘Sigh’. It became wine o’clock when I discovered that. Well the propane tank will have to wait until later. It really is Hump Day for me as I have a big hump to get over with a busy (depressing) morning ahead of me - Post Office to mail all the necessary stuff to the Federal Government & then an appointment at the bank to do a lot of necessary stuff that I’d rather not have to do. Hopefully, if the sun is coming out, I’ll have the energy to plant when I get home & my shaking stops.🤞 Thankfully I’ve had a long relationship with my Financial Planner so that will help make it a bit easier. I wish I had seen this one yesterday in time for the dinosaurs: Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list. Have a great Wednesday everyone !!!!! Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

LOL - I have NO plans of getting under the car 😉 DH didn’t even do that. There are service centres for that stuff 😆 Take it from one who knows Gerry - start him at it now - a bit at a time. It’s no fun when you’re left to deal with it. You have to do it and at the same time you feel guilty that you are getting rid of stuff that he “treasured”. It is going to take a long time to get it all done 😔 I try not to impose, Gerry but there are some things I don’t know and it’s easier when someone shows you 😉 That is great news, Ann 👍 More excellent news! So good to hear 👍

Depending on how many bottles of water you drink - you may wish to either get a water package and / or the Quench package (which includes water, mocktails, etc but no alcoholic drinks and is much cheaper than HIA). The key is to do some math and if it works out, get the package and if not, just pay as you go 😉

Thanks for our Tuesday Daily, Rich. Interesting collection of days. DH was a huge pack rat & sentimentalist so now, I’m slowly trying to deal with it. 😔 Hypertension is deadly if not dealt with so awareness is so important. Always fascinated by dinosaurs, I think I figured out why they really disappeared 😉 That quote of Fields would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Curious about today’s meal - I’ve had potato wedges & nachos but not a combination - looking forward to Debbie’s description! Another rainy day here - oh well, it beats the snow some of our provinces are doomed to get. And I have a bit more paperwork to tend to so I guess this is one way to make sure I do it 😉 @JAM37so sorry to hear of your migraine and it’s damage 😔. I hope you are feeling much better and improved today 🙏🏻 I learned another new skill yesterday - how to apply the special touch up paint to the stone chips on the SUV thanks to my neighbour. 👍 (another job DH would take care of) I guess that’s what you get for taking the hospital road for 5 months - LOL. I have very kind neighbours - willing to teach me what I need to learn ♥️ Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Shout Out / Celebratory list. Have a great Tuesday, everyone ! Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

Oh dear, Terri 😔 - best of luck with your root canal 🙏🏻 . At least it’s early in the morning and will be over with. A very happy birthday to your grandson & an early happy birthday wish to your brother.

Ok thanks. I knew you could see post count and confess, I don’t tend to go look at members a whole lot. Didn’t know about the other. Much appreciated.

I know I’m not the swiftest tool in the shed these days and probably missed something but where are you seeing this please? Roy @rafinmdsure does deserve it.

On the clothesline in the bathroom. And yes, bring a few clothes pins. You won’t need many 😉

Thanks for our Monday Daily, Rich Well, we certainly love trees - we planted enough on our property 😉 It’s the fallen leaves I don’t like 😠 Never got sea monkeys when I was young and I would certainly like it if we had Peace - everywhere 🙏🏻 I might change into purple if it will help. Love the Schulz quote and yum on the meal today. Curious about today’s wine but it’s probably red ‘sigh’. I’m guessing the drink of the day involves beer with the “hoppy”. We have been to Dubrovnik twice and thankfully it was in a less busy time and we were the only ship in port. (Got to love the EE - that happened a lot). Beautiful city and the walls are such fun to walk. 👍 Another rainy day here so I guess I better get out of my dark place & hunker down and get something done. I should be able to get the remaining begonias in the front porch if it’s not too cold (protected from the rain). And then it’s time to deal with economics & talk to my accountant to try to figure out how things work with an income reduction and a higher tax bracket since there is no more income splitting. Never fear - cruising will remain in my plans one way or the other 😉 Wonder if I can just do this and start over? 😉 I think best to do as much on the phone today as possible since some of my emails have had to be redone as they have looked like this 😉 Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list. Have a good Monday, everyone. Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

Wow, you poor thing - you have really had your hands full (and I’m sure you’re heart as well). I’m so happy to hear that your daughter is improving. And more glad that you have pulled the plug for a few days. If it isn’t enough, take a few more days off - it sounds like you will need it. Most stuff can wait for 2 or 3 days and there are other people. (Another pot calling the kettle black) but seriously, your health has to come first, please take care and take all the time you need when and if you need it. Please? Oops @aliaschief my sincere apologies Bruce, I thought I had chosen a happy anniversary meme - I guess my fat finger missed and I was not focused enough to notice. Please accept my apologies and happy anniversary

Well since you are celebrating early so will my wishes for you two. Happy Anniversary. Have a wonderful dinner and celebration tonight!

Seemed? things are much more expensive here this year. Big jump - a 6 pack of small annuals which was $9 last year (and cheaper the year before) is now $12 here. OUCH. Pretty much everything is substantially pricier 😔 Gerry, callas bloom for nearly a month - depending on your temperature, light, etc. You can get them to rebloom if you move them to a cool dark space and bring them back 2 months later. I don’t do that as mine are all intermingled in pots. BUT I do save the bulbs every year so once bought, you don’t need to buy more (unless you want to). Callas are not annuals as long as you are willing to dig them up, dry and store them. They will bloom year after year for many years. Gerberas bloom all season as long as you dead head them. Gerberas are true annuals with our cold temperatures in late fall and winter.

Thanks for our Sunday Daily, Rich. Chocolate chip day? A know a pile of people who will be celebrating that one 😉 God Bless all the Police Officers who have given their lives to protect others. Love the Collins quote. And Irish coffee? Perfect day for it with the rain 👍 or i guess one could warm up chocolate chip cookies 😉 Have to wait for the wine description. We adored Taormina. it wasn’t a port. We made a trip there from where we were docked and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend. @Rowsbyso glad you have made a command decision and getting away. Good for you 👍 I hope it is a lovely restorative getaway 🤞 Off to my other garden centre I like. Can’t find what I want for 2 planters. (And no it’s not the one off the hospital road 😉). Got all my dahlias, cannas and callas finished and in though. Still stuff to do but I plugged away knowing what was coming. And if they have chocolate chip cookies, I might buy some 😉 Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list. Have a good Sunday everyone !!!!! Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

Oh dear. I am so sorry to hear that, Ann. I hope their symptoms are mild and they recover quickly 🙏🏻 Congratulations on the new home and your new life on the river! You have been and will be very busy but once it is done, you can enjoy your new spot to the fullest 👍 Good luck with you endless list of things to do over the next while. That’s a very worthy anniversary to celebrate. Congratulations! Welcome home and safe travels! So glad to hear you enjoyed your cruise 👍

Oh thanks. Jose had so few I don’t know if they will but I will investigate. We learned long ago to dump all the miles in one person’s account - mine (since I’m the one who did all the bookings). But points are points so I will contact them and ask. thanks - I hadn’t thought of that. I’m sure there’s lots I still haven’t thought of to do.

Well, I am back in from planting - not finished but I put one heck of a dent in it. 👍. Once it cools down if I have energy, I’ll go out and get a few things in. It went up to 31 Celsius here. If DH is looking down, I think he would be pleased 🤞 A very happy anniversary to you both 🥂 I really like this. I’m going to keep it. Thanks ♥️ Don Quijote’s side kick was Sancho of course (and no, I didn’t need to go upstairs and get my books). I have two as I’ve read it in Spanish and English many years ago when my Spanish was much better. So glad to hear your DH’s doctor is trying to get him off the pain killers and provide natural solutions to the pain and the depression. DH was a pioneer here - creating an opioid reduction programme which was very successful (his colleague who spoke at the funeral spoke on it which I very much appreciated). Jose firmly believed that too many pills were often prescribed (which could conflict with each other) and that there were solutions that did not require dozens of pills. Many lives were changed and I hope your DH’s is too. Well dam on the covid, Susie 😠. I hope it doesn’t affect you much and you can recover easily and quickly. And, OMG - Yes, we would have been about to go on our Volendam cruise - I guess there is a reason for everything. 😉 I’m thankful it won’t interfere with your surgery. Transfers? You mean from the airport to the hotel? I’m not sure those are offered with Aeroplan - must check. I’m happy to get the business class - especially travelling alone.

Thanks for our Saturday Daily, Rich. I’ll skip the chicken dance but will celebrate Migratory bird Day and windmills. Looking forward to seeing some well known ones in Rotterdam next year. Sorry, Mark but for once we can agree to disagree 😉 I have read a lot of classics and I know I am not alone. Yum on the meal for today and we loved St. Maarten. I have decided I shouldn’t do anything on Friday the 13th - went out early to get more earth for my planters and stupid me, thought the 85L bags would be easier to handle than the bales. Nope. And, I think I made a mistake in my math and got too much. (In my prior life I would send DH out over and over when I was getting low and I didn’t want to make a bunch of trips.). I guess I’ll find out when I’m done 😉 Oh well, remember the signs of spring I posted the other day? It didn’t take them long to really liven up. Off to one of my favourite garden centres early this morning to get a few fillers for the planters that get a lot of sun. There is one I really like that has sunpatients and other such plants but it is near the hospital and requires the road to the hospital. I don’t think I can handle that right now. They are calling for rain for pretty much the next week so pitter patter I better get at her and try to get as much done as I can today. Cleaning and thank you’s can wait until tomorrow when it will most likely be raining. Cleaning - who am I kidding? My wonderful TA has HAL at work transferring Jose’s FCC, OBC, etc to me and converting my cruise in November to a solo cruise. Apparently it takes 4 - 6 weeks. Good thing she started early 😉 Prayers for everyone on the Care list & for those that need them and a 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list. Have a great Saturday, everyone !!!!! Stay safe & please don’t forget your 😷 when / where needed.

I completely understand, Marie. I’m happy to add the N Statendam sailing for you to the FCL. 🙂 Hopefully, down the road when cruises are settled I can figure out a clear enough definition to allow for non HAL cruises again without it being abused 🤞